So DeMar is beasting right now for 4 straight games (including Scrimmage) smarter player taking people off the bounce now (seriously how much does he ever do that?) Finishing through contact even going strong to poster players very impressive getting to the line. A threat from deep if set. DeMar DeRozan you are the man!

Yes he still doesnt rebound amazing or ast well but he is at least attempting to now defense can still get better.

And 100% of the time it doesn't hurt your team, so take the shot. If it goes in, those 3 points and the momentum might mean the difference in the game. To not take the short is stupid and selfish.

Actually it's not really stupid at all, considering the significant effect taking those shots can have on your shooting percentages, and eventually your next contract.

Might be selfish, but at the end of the day it's a business. Players aren't going to potentially sacrifice millions for a less-than-marginal chance of increasing their teams shot at winning a regular season game.

Teams scout players and know who can shoot and who can't. you think they really put that much weight into generic shooting %'s? Not a chance. They know who can shoot and who can't. The number of these shots isn't going to cost these players a dime.

Although it is DeMar DeRozan’s offensive game that is usually picked over, defence has been a bigger issue with the shooting guard’s development. Too often, he falls asleep off of the ball or goes under a screen, to the team’s detriment.
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The same could be said for Terrence Ross, who failed to translate his natural athleticism into consistently coherent defence. Rudy Gay has never been known for his defensive chops, either. So, when Raptors coach Dwane Casey built up DeRozan’s defensive growth — the usual pre-season caveats apply — it was worthy of taking note.

“His defence has been a surprise,” Casey said of DeRozan. “His defence has been a surprise with the way he’s stepped up, been in the right place, his stunts, his slides. His close-outs have been sharp.”

Again, it is either speculation or spin until the season starts. But, it is an interesting phenomenon. Generally, it is assumed that if a swingman is athletic and works hard, he will become a good defender. DeRozan, undeniably, is both. Yet, the Raptors are still waiting for him to become reliable on the other end entering his fifth season.

Everyone has a theory about why this is, and Casey has a theory about why he believes he will see a more effective DeRozan on that end.

“Maturity. Experience. Young guys who are talented never had to play defence in college because, and rightfully so, coaches don’t want them to get in foul trouble. They need them on the court,” Casey said. “At this level … every night you’re looking at another gun, a hired gun coming into town that can play. Every night — especially at that position, at the [swingman] position. You’ve got to pick it up. That process is something each of those guys has to go through. LeBron went through it. Kobe went through it. All of them had to learn, ‘If I want to stay on the court, I’ve got to learn how to defend.’ Either you do or you don’t.”

Going into his fifth year, DeRozan is also the closest thing this team has to a heritage player. Whether you believe he had other options (he did and he didn’t), DeRozan is The One Who Chose to Stay. That’s worth something.

Last year, he was an admired but often frustrating presence from the perspective of Raptors management. When the Bargnani stuff was hotting up late in the season, I put it to someone on top that you could package the Italian with DeRozan for one more year of creaky Lakers centre Pau Gasol.

One guy whose play has consistently warranted excitement this pre-season is DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan finished with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting to go with seven rebounds, and is now averaging over 14 points on 54 per cent shooting through six games. Overall, DeMar is making good decisions with the ball in his hands and has showed off an impressive post game when matching up with smaller wings. Specifically, DeRozan has developed a near automatic up-and-under move to get to the hoop at will.

After the game, DeRozan said the move is about a combination of good foot work and the experience of knowing how players are going to defend him. He also mentioned that he’s watched tape of Kobe Bryant and Andre Miller in the post. Here’s hoping the expanded offensive game continues to shine come October 30th.

“Going into my fifth year in the league, just having the utmost confidence. Not having no doubt or no questions about nothing.”

When did it change, he was asked.

“It comes over time, just with experience ... I just tried to put everything together this summer, just work on the game as a whole.”

Casey has noticed.

“No question,” Casey said before DeRozan’s latest standout game.

“He’s a family man and all that starts to come into play as you grow and mature. That’s why it’s so hard when people talk about: ‘This guy’s going to come in and take over the league.’ No, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a four year process, a five year process ... It’s really good to see.”

Keep playing like that buddy you're doing amazing, when this season is in the books and his play continues as it has been these past 6 games (8 if you include the scrimmages) look for him to be beside JV as an untouchable piece moving forward.

21 pts 7 boards and 2 ast last night in 28 minutes of action against the knicks last night.

Last year, i would've said yes in A HEARTBEAT. But the way DeRozan has played in these preseason games. I'm gonna wait and see. See if he can carry what he's doing now to the regular season. If he can, no i wouldn't do it.

"Analytics DON'T work at all. It's some crap that people that are really smart made up to get in the game. Bunch of smart guys who have never played. The NBA is about TALENT" - Charles Barkley #Truth

If DD can play like this consistently through the regular season can't we have a little fun and enjoy him doing it for this team before we trade him? Because he's playing like an all star. I know I know, "it's only pre season" but I'd rather see him play like this than not play like this in pre season.

For the record, don't forget that Denver has the rights to switch picks with the Knicks in 2016, when the latter might be rebuilding. So I might actually do that deal IF we get the right to switch picks with them that year, meaning we'd get to keep the highest of those two picks (Denver's or New York's).

Otherwise, I don't think I do that deal because: A) DD wants to be here; B) DD is killing it right now; C) We have two decent PFs right now, whereas the talent drop behind DD is HUGE right now.

For the record, don't forget that Denver has the rights to switch picks with the Knicks in 2016, when the latter might be rebuilding. So I might actually do that deal IF we get the right to switch picks with them that year, meaning we'd get to keep the highest of those two picks (Denver's or New York's).

Otherwise, I don't think I do that deal because: A) DD wants to be here; B) DD is killing it right now; C) We have two decent PFs right now, whereas the talent drop behind DD is HUGE right now.

That is a good point on the picks.

TRex wrote:

And DeMar is 24. And his contract right now is looking like a bargain if he can continue to play like this consistently.

Ahhhh the forever elusive consistency. DeMar has gone through 10-15 games stretches in the league over the last 3 years where you swear we have a budding AllStar. I really am looking forward to seeing what he does. However, a lot of hype is being generated around him thus far with the usual "it is only preseason." This would be a text book example of why few people sell at the top. What happens if he is not consistent? What happens if his contract becomes an anchor? What happens if cheap, productive assets and significant financial flexibility could be swapped for DeRozan?

For me, assuming Leiweke is sincere when he says Raptors ownership is willing to go in to luxury tax, the goal is to acquire as many productive players on cheap rookie contracts so when it comes time to extend them, you own their Bird Rights and have no worries of salary cap/luxury tax. Hopefully while doing this you can at least add one significant free agent before extensions kick in. Again, as has been said numerous times, Raptors have very little means to significantly improve at this time.

He's doing a lot more than just taking mid range jumpers, he's actually going to the rim and extending some of those long two's for three's.
In previous years he'd go through the 10-15 game stretches playing well only because his shots were falling, but right now it seems as if he's playing well because he's playing smarter.